Since 2007, B4C has proudly partnered with the Mt Isa/Gregory River Landcare Group through a unique “Twinning” initiative, originally inspired by the International River Foundation. The idea was sparked after B4C received the National River Prize at the 2005 International River Symposium — and we chose the iconic Gregory River as our sister river.
At the heart of this long-standing collaboration is Landcare champion Mark Van Ryt, who has generously shared his knowledge, time and country with us. Each year, two young people from our B4C community travel to the region to live and work alongside outback Landcarers — gaining hands-on experience and a deep appreciation for remote land and water stewardship.
In the early years, our activities were as diverse as the landscape:
- Introducing “No Dig Gardens” to three schools across the Southern Gulf
- Planting orchards
- Running a five-year art exchange program connecting students in the Gulf with others in France, Spain and Thailand
While the scope of our activities has shifted due to the enormous demands placed on our northern partners, the spirit of the program remains strong. These days, our young volunteers travel from Mt Isa to work in remote communities and alongside local custodians — contributing to weed control, heritage restoration, and ecological care across rivers, creeks and wetlands.
This annual exchange is proudly supported by the Bulimba Creek Environment Fund, which helps fund this unique partnership and other Southern Gulf Landcare projects. Though we’ve had to adapt over the years, the program continues to thrive — a testament to resilience, passion, and shared purpose.
It’s not just a Landcare project — it’s a sustainable, meaningful Outback Adventure that builds bridges between city and country, and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards.
